The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-04
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAI~-sUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 4. 1887.

health as to require rest, responded
TO the call for his services in the
Senate, and went to Washington to
labor in the cause of peace. War
vas to him an evil which only de-
tense OF the honor and rights Of his
country would justify. That state
OF the case made him the advocate
OF the war of 1872, but in 1845 he
saw no such justification, and was,
therefore, in favor OF negotiation, by
which he believed war could be
ayerted without the surrender of the
rights ,f our country.
FINALLY.
AS a Senator he was a model of
courtesy. He politely listened to
each one who spoke, neither reading
nor writing when in his seat, and as
long as health permitted was punct-
ual aud constant in his attendance.
His correspondence was conducted
by rising at dawn and writing before
breakfast. Issues growing out of
the disposal of the public lands
within the States occupied much
OF the time of Congress, and for this
and more important reasons he pro-
posed, on certain conditions, to sur
render the public lands to the new
States in which they lay. This was
but another exhibition of his far
reaching patriotism and wisdom, a.
shown in his argument for the
measure.
Always earnest, often intense in
debate, he was never rhetorical, sci.
dom sought tie aid of illustration,
smile or quotation, but, concisely
and In logical sequence, stated his
views like one demonstrating prob
lem, the truth OF which was so clear
to his mind that he did not doubt its
acceptance by all who listened to the
proof. Perhaps he was too little Of
party mao to believe, as the English
parliameutarian did, that opinions
might be, but votes we're never
changed by a speech.
Wide as was his knowledge, great
as was his foresight, reaching toward
the domain Of prophecy, his opinions
we're little derived from books or
from conservation. Data he gathered
on every hand, but the conclusions
we're the Celebrations Of his brain
as much his own as is honey not Of
the leaf, but Of the bag OF the bee.
He paid little attention to style
probably undervalued it; words
we're to him merely the medium TO
convey his thoughts, and these flowed
on unbrpken and with the resistless
power OF a mighty river.
The death OF Mr.. Calhoun, though
anticipated by those who saw him,
with lettering steps, enter the Senate
Chamber for the last time and ieebly
struggle TO repel misconstruction,
created the deep impression which
his high aud revered character
commanded. His great political
antagonist, Mr.. Webster, had always
been his personal friend; they we're
born in the same year, 1852. There
was a custom in the old Senate that
at the beginning Of each session SEN
ators should give one another a
friendly salutation as evidence that
past controversies we're buried. On
one occasion | remember that Mr..
Webster approached Mr.. Calhoun,
aud with cordial greeting said: How
do the men of 1882 stand on their
pinsT When the death was an
nounced in the Senate Mr.. Webster
said: II think there is not one of u.
when he last addressed us from his
seat in the Senate, who did not feel
that he might imagine that he saw
before us a Senator OF Rome, when
Rome survived. He had
the basis, the indispensable ba.
sis OF all high character, and
that was upspotted integrity
unimpeschcd honor and character,
II he had aspirations, they were
high, aud honorable, and noble
There was nothing grovcliDg, or low
or meanly selfish that came near the
head or the heart OF Calhoun.
. We shall delight TO speak oI
him TO those who are rising up tC
Gil our places. Aud when the time
shall como that We ourselves shall
20, one after another, in succession
to our graves, we shall carry with vi
a deep sense Of his genius and char
acter, his honor and integrity, hi
smiablo department in private life
and the purity Of his exalted patriot
ism. JEPFERSoN DAVIS.